Blah, Blah, Blah
1 Corinthians 14
1 Corinthians 14.1-6
1 Pursue
love, and earnestly desire
the spiritual gifts, especially that you
may prophesy.
2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not
to men but to God; for no one understands
him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 14.1-6
3 On
the other hand, the one who prophesies
speaks to people for their upbuilding and
encouragement and consolation.
4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up
himself, but the one who prophesies builds up
the church.
1 Corinthians 14.1-6
5 Now
I want you all to speak in tongues,
but even more to prophesy. The one who
prophesies is greater than the one who
speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets,
so that the church may be built up.
1 Corinthians 14.1-6
6 Now,
brothers, if I come to you speaking in
tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring
you some revelation or knowledge or
prophecy or teaching?
Five Sections of 1 Corinthians 14
1. Why prophecy is essential to the Church…
(1-6a)
1 Corinthians 14.6-12
6 Now,
brothers, if I come to you speaking in
tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring
you some revelation or knowledge or
prophecy or teaching?
7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute
or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how
will anyone know what is played?
1 Corinthians 14.6-12
8 And
if the bugle gives an indistinct sound,
who will get ready for battle?
9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you
utter speech that is not intelligible, how will
anyone know what is said? For you will
be speaking into the air.
1 Corinthians 14.6-12
10 There
are doubtless many different
languages in the world, and none is without
meaning,
11 but if I do not know the meaning of the
language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker
and the speaker a foreigner to me.
1 Corinthians 14.6-12
12 So
with yourselves, since you are eager for
manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in
building up the church.
Five Sections of 1 Corinthians 14
1. Why prophecy is essential to the Church…
(1-6a)
2. Some problems with tongues… (6b-12)
1 Corinthians 14.13-19
13 Therefore,
one who speaks in a tongue
should pray that he may interpret.
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but
my mind is unfruitful.
15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit,
but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing
praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my
mind also.
1 Corinthians 14.13-19
16 Otherwise,
if you give thanks with your
spirit, how can anyone in the position of an
outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving
when he does not know what you are
saying?
17 For you may be giving thanks well enough,
but the other person is not being built up.
1 Corinthians 14.13-19
18 I
thank God that I speak in tongues more
than all of you.
19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather
speak five words with my mind in order to
instruct others, than ten thousand words in a
tongue.
Five Sections of 1 Corinthians 14
1. Why prophecy is essential to the Church…
(1-6a)
2. Some problems with tongues… (6b-12)
3. Solutions to those problems… (13-19)
1 Corinthians 14.20-25
20 Brothers,
do not be children in your
thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your
thinking be mature.
21 In the Law it is written, “By people of
strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners
will I speak to this people, and even then
they will not listen to me, says the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 14.20-25
22 Thus
tongues are a sign not for believers
but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a
sign not for unbelievers but for believers.
23 If, therefore, the whole church comes
together and all speak in tongues, and
outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not
say that you are out of your minds?
1 Corinthians 14.20-25
24 But
if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or
outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is
called to account by all,
25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and
so, falling on his face, he will worship God
and declare that God is really among you.
Five Sections of 1 Corinthians 14
1. Why prophecy is essential to the Church…
(1-6a)
2. Some problems with tongues… (6b-12)
3. Solutions to those problems… (13-19)
4. Again, why prophecy is essential to the
Church… (20-25)
1 Corinthians 14.26-40
26 What
then, brothers? When you come
together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a
revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let
all things be done for building up.
27 If any speak in a tongue, let there be only
two or at most three, and each in turn, and let
someone interpret.
1 Corinthians 14.26-40
28 But
if there is no one to interpret, let each of
them keep silent in church and speak to
himself and to God.
29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the
others weigh what is said.
30 If a revelation is made to another sitting
there, let the first be silent.
1 Corinthians 14.26-40
31 For
you can all prophesy one by one, so
that all may learn and all be encouraged,
32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to
prophets.
33 For God is not a God of confusion but of
peace. As in all the churches of the saints,
1 Corinthians 14.26-40
34 the
women should keep silent in the
churches. For they are not permitted to speak,
but should be in submission, as the Law also
says.
35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let
them ask their husbands at home. For it is
shameful for a woman to speak in church.
1 Corinthians 14.26-40
36 Or
was it from you that the word of God
came? Or are you the only ones it has
reached?
37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or
spiritual, he should acknowledge that the
things I am writing to you are a command of
the Lord.
1 Corinthians 14.26-40
38 If
anyone does not recognize this, he is not
recognized.
39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to
prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in
tongues.
40 But all things should be done decently
and in order.
Five Sections of 1 Corinthians 14
1. Why prophecy is essential to the Church…
(1-6a)
2. Some problems with tongues… (6b-12)
3. Solutions to those problems… (13-19)
4. Again, why prophecy is essential to the
Church… (20-25)
5. Primacy of ordered spontaneity… (26-40)
Take-aways…
1. The Gospel message is to be in the
vernacular of the hearers.
2. Preparation aids Holy Spirit led
spontaneity.